Post-season baseball has officially arrived.
With the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves both needing just one win to clinch a playoff berth in Monday’s doubleheader, the first game of the day had more ups and downs than your favourite roller coaster.
With the lead changing hands twice in the eighth on 10-total runs scored, Francisco Lindor provided the heroics in the ninth, launching a two-run, go-ahead homer that proved to be the difference in punching New York’s ticket to the post-season.
After Spencer Schwellenbach delivered seven excellent innings in the biggest game of his short career, the Mets stunned the Atlanta crowd with a six-run eighth to take a 6-3 lead.
The six runs came on hits from Tyrone Taylor, Starling Marte Lindor and Jose Iglesias before Brandon Nimmo capped things off with a 405-foot two-run homer to give the Mets some breathing room.
But that’s where the fun started.
Ozzie Albies and the Braves answered with a four-run inning of their own, including a bases-clearing double from Atlanta’s second baseman off Mets closer Edwin Díaz to retake the lead.
But as has been the case almost all season, the Mets just wouldn’t die.
Lindor showed why he has been one of baseball’s top stars this season, delivering on the biggest stage with his homer to continue the Mets’ incredible second-half push.
The Braves will give the ball to likely NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale, and the Mets, having clinched their spot in the playoffs, will shift from their scheduled starter, Luis Severino, to prepare for Game 1 of the wild card on Tuesday.
